In this second edition of Black Maternity Natters, host Ann Remmers is joined by Katie Donovan-Adekanmbi, an inclusion and cohesion strategist and a founding member of the Black Maternity Matters collaborative. Katie shares the "three pillars" that fuel her passion for social justice: her academic background in social psychology, two decades of "stomping the concrete" in community development, and her lived experience as a dual-heritage, neurodivergent mother of twins. Together, they discuss the vision behind BCohCo (Building Cohesive Communities) and why racial and cross-cultural literacy should be viewed as essential professional competencies rather than optional "charity work".

The conversation dives deep into the anti-racist education programme Katie co-designed, exploring how it differs from standard mandatory training by demanding deep personal introspection. Katie explains the importance of creating "brave spaces" rather than just safe ones, where participants can navigate the uncomfortable "lightbulb moments" of realising how systemic racism is perpetuated. 

From staying resilient against a shifting political tide to a sneak peek at her future work with AI bias interruption tools, this episode is a powerful exploration of how to transmute guilt into meaningful action. Plus, don't miss Katie’s essential book recommendation for anyone looking to understand the historical roots of racism in medicine.

Programme notes

BCohCo

Divided by Annabel Sowemimo

Black Maternity Matters

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